Optimal Boundary Design of Radiant Enclosures Using Micro-Genetic Algorithm

Abstract

This study presents an optimization methodology for finding the heaters setting that produce a desired heat flux and temperature distribution over a region of the enclosure surface, called the design surface. Radiation element method by ray emission model (REM2) was used to calculate the radiative heat flux on the design surface, which enable us to handle reflecting surfaces. Micro-genetic algorithm was used to minimize an objective function, which was expressed by the sum of square error between estimated and desired heat fluxes on the design surface. The novel features of this methodology were demonstrated by finding the optimal heaters setting of a three dimensional enclosure for three aspect ratio. The effects of refractory properties have been studied as well.

Keywords

• optimal
• design
• radiant enclosures
• micro-genetic algorithm
• radiation element method by ray emission model